Text Box: Brightwood Beach, an exciting resort on the south side of Lake Ripley, was open for just five years, from 1889-1893. But in that time thousands of people visited this fancy resort. The pictures show wealthy visitors in suits and fancy dresses fishing, playing tennis, and just relaxing on the shore. But a recession was partially responsible, and travel to lakes further north was more available. And Brightwood Beach became just a memory.

Brightwood Beach was made up of 59 parcels and featured four avenues, a park, picnic area, tennis courts, and the beach. Visitors were taken from what is now Anderson Gardens to Brightwood by 2 steam boats.  The Minnesota Editorial Association hailed Brightwood as “the most lovely spot in Minnesota” and a “gem of a lake with pebbly shores and blue as the vaults of heaven.”  The resort was a success in almost every way except financially.  It is estimated that July 4th, 1890 found 10,000 people in Litchfield.  But by 1893 the financial problems of Brightwood itself and the economy as a whole caused the facility to close. 

Brightwood is only five years out of the history of Litchfield and Meeker County, but they are five busy and exciting years!  A writer of that time said, “This season was filled up with a variety of entertainments of the most attractive character, and Messrs. Branham & Greenleaf are certainly entitled to great credit for the reputation ‘Brightwood’ has already secured, as the gathering of so many people from different parts will add to the bustle and thrift of our beautiful city.”  When you consider that this was just 30 years from the Dakota War of 1862, you see how quickly the area had changed!